Wranglers Cool Off Turks

What a difference a night makes as the Luray Wranglers turned the tables on the red-hot Harrisonburg Turks winning 4-0 at Eagle Field in Harrisonburg .

Right-hander Tucker Jensen (Emery-Riddle) scattered four hits over his eight innings of work combining with reliever Zach Blatt ( Auburn ) on the shutout. The Turks had won three in a row, including a 2-0 shutout of Winchester just the night before.

Turks ace Drew Granier (Louisiana-Monroe) pitched well again but surrendered single runs in the 3rd, 5th and 6th innings and was saddled with his first loss of the season to fall to 5-1.

Luray broke up the scoreless pitcher’s duel in the third inning when Joel Capote (Florida International) tripled to center field. Nick Rickles (Stetson) immediately singled to left to plate Capote.

In the 5th inning it was Capote and Rickles again as Capote walked, stole second base and scored on Rickles’ triple to center. Granier worked out of trouble and kept it at 2-0.

In the 6th inning Luray struck again as third-year Wrangler Jeff Jefferson hit a solo home run to left field to make it 3-0.

Granier on the night threw seven innings, allowed six hits, three runs, struck out six and walked two.

In the eighth, Michael Broad ( Miami ) led off with a double to left off Turks right hander Ryan Chapman ( Rio Grande ) and scored on a Jonathan Griffin ( Central Florida ) base hit to center to conclude the scoring at 4-0.

The Wranglers showed some pop as five of their eight hits went for extra bases.

Jenson was masterful from the start and finished with eight innings, four hits allowed, eight strikeouts and three walks. Jensen improves to 4-1 on the season. Blatt struck out the side in the 9th to preserve the shutout.

Austin Erb ( Ashland ), Scott Dalrymple ( Oklahoma City University ), J.J. Loker (USC-Aiken) and Caleb Bowen ( Auburn ) each had a hit for the Turks who fall to 21-18 on the season and are currently 4th in the Valley League standings.

The Turks will travel to Haymarket on Thursday to take on the 1st place Senators. The Wranglers (22-16) will host the New Market Rebels.